A blog by Jeffrey G. Marsocci, author of The Gay Marriage Alternative, focused on partner protection planning, plus legal and political news of interest to the GLBT community, domestic partners, and open-minded individuals.

February 25, 2009

LGBT College Student Achieves Two Political Firsts

Nick Shalosky achieved two huge political firsts. One, twenty-one year old Nick is now the first openly gay elected official in South Carolina since assuming his post on the Charleston County School Board. And two, he relied entirely on free internet strategies to get elected. (http://stereotypd.com/gay_news/?p=1448)

School Board Member Shalosky brings a new perspective to the district as an openly gay man who recently graduated high school at a time when Gay-Straight Alliances are gaining ground but receiving strong resistence in the redest of red states, or even red counties in blue states. His unique perspective in an important position affecting schools can greatly help make schools what they are supposed to be--a safe place where children can learn without fear of bullying.

Maybe even more importantly, School Board Member Shalosky got his position without spending one penny on his campaign. Taking cues from political success stories like Barack Obama, he utilized tools like Facebook to get the word out. (http://www.bilerico.com/2009/02/facebook_got_me_elected_how_the_new_medi.php). If more politicians took the track that School Board Member Shalosky did, we may have representatives who actually stand for the people and what is right instead of just on the people who give a lot of money to get them elected.